Apparatus for automatic locking and releasing cord reels and automatic connecting and disconnecting of the cord on the reel



Sept. 27, 1966 KUNlO BABA 3, 75,780

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIC LOCKING AND RELEASING CORD HEELS AND AUTOMATICCONNECTING AND DISCONNECTING OF THE CORD ON THE REEL Filed May 27, 19654 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I F|G.6

FIG.4 ,3

2c llii'i 2 INVENTOR.

Kunio Baba MM {14% M f Sept. 27, 1966 KUNIO BABA 3,275,780

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIC LOCKING AND RELEASING CORD REELS AND AUTOMATICCONNECTING AND DISCONNECTING OF THE CORD ON THE REEL Filed May 27, 19654 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.9

INVENTOR. Kunio Baba W WW4 F Sept. 27, 1966 KUNIO BABA 3,275,780

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIC LOCKING AND RELEASING CORD HEELS AND AUTOMATICCONNECTING AND DISCONNECTING OF THE CORD ON THE REEL Filed May 27. 19654 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. Kun i0 Baba Sept. 27. 1966 KUNIO BABA3,275,780

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIC LOCKING AND RELEASING com) HEELS AND AUTOMATICCONNECTING AND DISCONNEC'I'ING OF THE com) on THE REEL Filed May 27,1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

Kunio Baba a Q NJ/ W W United States Patent APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICLOCKING AND RELEASING CORD REELS AND AUTOMATIC CONNECTING ANDDISCONNECTING OF THE CORD ON THE REEL Kunio Baba, Tokyo, Japan, assignorof fifty percent, to

Dearman Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan, a company of Japan Filed May 27, 1965,Ser. No. 461,606 8 Claims. (Cl. 200-453) This application is acontinuation-in-part application of my applications Serial Nos. 265,267,265,272 and 265,274, filed March 14, 1963.

The present invention relates to a spring-wound cord reel for use withan electrical appliance or apparatus, and in one aspect relates to anovel and improved means for automatic locking and releasing of thespring cord reel, and in another aspect relates to novel and improvedmeans for automatic connecting and disconnecting of an electric cord onthe reel at the time of locking and releasing of the reel.

Heretofore numerous types of spring-wound cord reels adapted forelectrical appliances have been proposed and are now in use. It will beunderstood that an electric cord is indispensable for providing anelectrical connection between a source of electric power and an electricmachine to be operated by a user. However, it is known that the handlingof the cord is often troublesome for the user. It is inconvenient forthe user if the cord is too long or too short. Further, the manner ofhandling the cord after the use is also tedious. Spring-woundcord-controlled take-up reels have been developed as a solution to theseproblems.

However, one of the disadvantages encountered with the conventional cordreel of the above type lies in the means for locking and releasing thecord pulled from the reel at any desired position. A furtherdisadvantage encountered with the conventional cord reel of the abovetype lies in the means for connecting and disconnecting the electriccircuit to the cord on the word reel.

As is well known, the spring-wound cord reel performs its functions withthe aid of a spiral tension spring, so the reel revolves many times ineither direction according to whether the user is taking up or payingout the 'cord. Thus, the cord is always compelled to revolve around thereel in the same direction as that of the reel itself. If a single cordis relied on for rotating the cord reel, it will eventually be broken bytwistingresulting from the rotation in either direction. Moreover, thecord has two ends, one connected to a source of elecetric power by meansof, e.g.', a wall socket or plug receptacle, and the other to theelectrical machine to be used. The drum hub on which the cord is to bewound is required to revolve in either direction depending on whetherthe cord is to be wound up or unwound, while, on the other hand, thestationary outer cover is not allowedto revolve at all. This stationarycover is the part at which the electric energy is received from the cordand transmitted to the electric appliance. Therefore it is important tosolve the problem of how to establish an electric connection between therotating part and the stationary part. For convenience, let the contactof the rotating part be called a rotating contact, and that of thestationary part a stationary contact. In any spring-woundcord-controlled reel, the electrical connection of this stationary.contact is a highly important matter.

Numerous methods and means have been proposed for transmitting electricenergy fromthe rotating contact to the stationary contact of an electricmachine to be operated. One of the universallyadopted means is asfollows: means including an electrical collector ring and a brush "iceis provided in operative juxtaposition to the reel, through which theelectric energy can be supplied to the particular machine, whicheverdirection the rotating contact of the cord may be rotated. However, aserious defect encountered with the above collector ring and brush meansis that there is an unavoidable loss of the contact metal resulting fromfriction since they are in contact during rotation.

The present invention is directed to an apparatus to overcome thedisadvantages inherent in the conventional spring-wound cord reel, andbriefly stated, a preferred embodiment thereof comprises an apparatusfor automatic locking and releasing of the cord of the reel by the stepsof engaging and disengaging .a rotatable lock means in response to asudden release and/ or a slow release of the cord being pulled from thereel. More particularly, the novel and improved rotatable lock means ofthe invention is so small and compact that it can be accommodated in arelatively small space within the reel body, the volume of which will besubstantially unchanged by the provision of the rotatable lock means.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a novel andimproved spring-Wound cord reel in which the novel rotatable lock meansis installed in an outer portion of a drum hub of the reel.

It is another object of the invention to provide a cord reel in whichthe cord is held in any extended position automatically by a simpleoperation, such as, a sudden or slow release of the cord.

The present invention has a further object to overcome the disadvantagesinherent in the contact means of conventional spring-wound cord reels,and the preferred embodiment of the invention also comprises anapparatus for automatically connecting and disconnecting the electriccircuit of the cord reel by providing contact means in connection withthe rotatable lock means in response to .a quick release and/ or a slowrelease of the cord being pulled from the reel.

It is another object of the invention to provide a cord reel in whichthe contact metal loss due to friction is minimized because the contactsare connected only in the locked condition of the cord, that is, whenthe cord is at a standstill.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a cord reel whichwill be simple in construction and easy to mass produce as Well ashaving a high efficiency and a high dependability.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the following description, which, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, discloses several preferred embodiments thereof.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a stationary plate, showing the inner sidethereof;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a rotatable lock member;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the reel showing the circular recessprovided on the outer side of the hub of the reel;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the stationary plate of FIG. 1;

'FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the rotatable lock member of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the reel body;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of the apparatus withthe parts in the locked condition;

4 FIG. 8 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of the apparatuswith the parts in the unlocked condition;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a stationary outer cover of an embodimentlike that of FIGS. 1-8 and having electrical contact means as a partthereof, and showing the inner side thereof;

FIG. 10 is a top plan viewof a rotatable conductor means for use withthe cover of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of the reel for use with the cover of FIG. 9and showing the circular recess provided on the outer side of the drumhub of the reel;

FIG. 12 is a side view of the stationary outer cover of FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the rotatable conductor means of FIG.10;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the reel-body of FIG. 11;

FIG. 15. is a side view, partly broken away of the apparatus of FIGS.9-14 with the parts in the connected condition;

FIG. 16 is a side view, partly broken away, of the apparatus of FIGS.9-14 with the parts in the disconnected condition; 7

FIG. 17 is a schematic side view, on a reduced scale, of a part of amodified embodiment of the apparatus of the invention, showing theelectric contacts of the apparatus of this, embodiment inthe unlockedposition;

FIG. 18 is also a schematic side view similar to FIG.

17, showing the electric contacts in the locked position;

FIG. 19 is another schematic side'view similar to FIG. 1, showing theelectric contacts in the released position;

FIG. 20 is a plan view of the inner face of a stationary outer cover 2".

FIG. 21 is a plan view of the rotatable lock means;

FIG. 22 is a plan view of the recessed face of the drum hub of the cordreelof this embodiment;

.FIG. 23 is a longitudinal sectional view of the cord reel provided withcontacts according to this modified embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 24 is a plan view of the cordreel of FIG.'23, with certain partsbroken away; and

FIG., 25 is a longitudinal sectional View taken along the line AA ofFIG. 24.

Referring to FIGS. 4-6 inclusive, the novel and improved cord reel ofthe invention comprises a rotatable drum huh I, a rotatable lock member2, a stationary plate 3, a helical spring 4, and a central shaft 5. Anassembled cord reel is shown in FIGS. 7-8. As shown in FIGS.3 and ,6, apair of projecting elements 1a and 1b which are diametrically opposed toeach other extend into the circular recess in the drum hub 1 of the reelfrom an end face of the hub in the bottom of the recess. These memberseach have the same shape, but extend into the circular recess inopposite directions.

Because their functions are also equivalent, a description of eitherelement 1a or 1b will suffice. The element 1a has two portions. 1c andIe, the portion 10 being inclined upwardly out of the recess and in adirection opposite to the ,winding direction of the hub, and the portion1e being an entrance surface, the part of the projection having surface1a being wedge-shape. The portion 1e is for leading the rotatablelocking member 2 onto the adjacent inclined portion 10. 1

A central shaft 5 extends through a central hole" 1g of the drum hub torotatably mount the hub 5. .A pair of flange plates 112 and 1k areintegral with the drum huh I to accommodate the cord 6.

The rotatable lock member 2 is freely rotatably mounted in shaft 5 onaseat 5a provided around the central shaft 5 with the shaft extendingthrough hole 2e. As shown inFIGS. 2 and 5, the rotatable locking member2 is in the form of a bar having an expanded portion at the middlethereof, two arms 2a and 2b being on opposite ends thereof. A seat 2daround the central hole 2e of the rotatable locking member 2 holds ahelical spring 4between the seat 3b of the stationary plate 3 and theseat 2d. This spring 4 urges the locking member 2 away from plate 3toward the drum hub 1.

The rotatable locking member 2 is provided with abutment means in theform .of a plurality of pawl-like teeth An abutment means in the form ofa plurality of pawl-like teeth 34 similar to those of the rotatablelocking member 2 are provided on the inner side of the stationary plate3. The pawl-like teeth 2c of the rotatable locking member 2 areengageable withiteeth 3a of the stationary plate 3.

A plurality of holes 3d, shown in FIG.? 1,. are provided so that thestationary plate 3 can be aflixed to a stationary support by screwsextending through the, plate. As is usual in a spring-wound cord reel,.a spiral takeup tension spring (not shown) is mounted in the drum huh Iso that one end of the spring is fastened to the drum hub 1 and theother end thereof anchored to the central shaft 5. It will be understoodthat the rotatable.

locking member 2, and the. drum hub 1 are. rotatably mounted on thecentral shaft 5.

The rotatable locking member. 2 is movable alongthe central shaftS upand down and is also rotatable around the same shaft 5 in eitherdirection.

In operation, when it is desired that the cord 6 pulled from the drumhuh I should be. locked in any. appropriate: position, the cord 6 ispulled quickly; and is released again suddenly. As a result, the reel 1revolves in a direction entirely opposite to the pulley direction underthe tension of the take-up spring (not shown) housed .in the drum, hub 1so that the inclined portion of the projection la (and also 1b) willslide under the arm 2a: (-andalso 2b) with the smooth and inclinedentrance portion 1e (and also If) acting as a guide, and will wedge thearm 2a along the shaft 5 toward stationary plate 3, and the ro tatablemember 2 together with the arm 2a will be fur-1 ther wedged on theinclined portion 1c of projection 1 This is because the inertia oflocking member 2 causes it to remain still or rotate in one directionwhile the hub rotates in the other direction when it is suddenlyreleased.

Further, as the rotatable locking. member 2 is wedged by the inclinedportion of projection 1a (and also projection 1b during the rotation ofthe .reel, the pawl-like teeth 2c on the rotatable, lockingmember 2 willapproach the pawl-like teeth 3a on :the stationary plate 3. Finally,overcoming the urging of the helical spring 4,1both sets of pawl-liketeeth will be engaged with one another.: As a result, the rotation ,ofthe reelzis completely suspended by the firm engagement of both sets ofpawl-like teeth 20. and 3a, which is clearly shown in FIG. 7. Thus, thecord 6 is. locked in any extended position.

Next, in taking up the cord 6 onto the reel, the cord is pulled a littlein thepu-llingdirection .and released slowly. Then the drumhu-b 1 willrecede into the posi-.

t-ion where the hub 1 is spaced from the position inwhich. the rotatablelocking member 2 is urged towards the stationary plate 3 so that underthe. influence of spring 4 I the arm 2a (and 2b) of the rotatablelocking memberv 2 will slide down the projection 1c' and its adjoininginclined entrance portion 1e, and the rotatable locking member. 2 I ywill return to itsorigin al seat 5a at lthe bottom. of. the

shaft 5.

, Accordingly, whenthe cord 6 is pulled a little, and

then, released or taken upslowly, the rotatable. locking member 2occupies a stable position at the seat 511 at the bottom of the. shaftSso that the arm 2a (or 2b) of the rotatable lock 2 will not move ontothe inclined entrance portion 1e (of 1]), because. the reverse or taking7 up rotation of the drum huh I is not so sudden as to push circularrecess of the p the arm of the locking member 2 towards the projectionportion 1c (or ld), although-the locking member 2 is in- 1 troduced-ontothe inclined entrance portion 12 (or 1 Thus, the rotatable lockingmember 2 is urged towards the circular recess of the drum hub 1 by thetension of the helical spring 4 and the locking member 2 with the arms2a and 2b is brought into the reverse or taking-up rotation.Consequently, the cord 6 is safely taken-up by the reel owing to theproper taking up operation of the drum hub 1, which is clearly shown inFIG. 8.

As fully described in the foregoing, the control of the spring-woundcord reel, such as, locking and takingup of the cord, can be effectedsafely in an automatic manner without recourse to any mechanism orapparatus positioned on the outside of the cord reel by the simpleoperation of a sudden and/or slow release of the cord together with thetension of the spiral spring house in the drum hub of the cord reel.

Referring to FIGS. 12-14 inclusive, an embodiment of the novel andimproved cord reel of this invention similar to that of FIGS. l-8comprises a rotatable drum hub 1', on which the cord 12' is wound,rotatably mounted on a central shaft 11', a rotatable conductor means2', a stationary plate, electric contacts 4' and 5' aifixed to therotatable conductor member 2', electric contacts 8' and 9' affixed tothe stationary plate 3', and a helical spring 10'.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 14, a pair of projecting elements 1a and 1bwhich are diametrally opposed to each other extend into the circularrecess in the drum hub 1' of the reel from the end face of the hub whichforms the bottom of the recess. These elements each have the same shape,but extend into the circular recess in the same rotational direction.Because theirfunctions are also equivalent, a description of either 1aor 1b will sufiice. The elements 1a has two portions '10 and 1e, theportion 1c being inclined upwardly out of the recess in a directionopposite to the winding direction of the hub, and the portion 1e beingan entrance surface, thepart of the projection having the surface 1ebeing wedge-shaped. The portion 1e is for leading the rotatableconductor member 2' onto the adjacent inclined portion 10'. In addition,the inclined portion 1c has an electric contact member 4' thereon. Theupper surface of the contact 4' is adapted to come into contact with aconductor- 6' or 7' on the rotatable conductor means 2', and 2. lug 4aprojects laterally from the contact 4' to provide a connection with thecord 12'. The elements each have a portion 1m on the end thereofperpendicular to the end face of the reel.

A central shaft 11' extends through .a central hole 1g of the drum hubto rotatably mount the hub, and a pair of flange plates 1k and 1k areintegral with the drum hub 1' to accommodate the cord 12'.

The rotatable conductor means 2 is freely rotatably mounted on shaft 11'on a seat I la provided around the central shaft 11' with the shaftextending through the hole 2e. As shown in FIGS. 1-0 and 13, therotatable conductor means 2' is the form of a bar having an expandedportion at the middle thereof, two arms 2a and 2b being on opposite endsthereof, the same as the rotatable lock member of FIGS. 2 and 5.Further, the end of each of the arms 2a and 2b is an electric conductor6' or 7', respectively. A seat 2d around the central hole 2e of therotatable conductor member 2 holds the helical spring 10' between theseat 2d and the seat 3b of the stationary plate 3', which spring urgesthe rotatable conductor 2 towards the circularrecess of the drum hub 1'and away from stationary plate 3'.

The rotatable conductor and lock member 2 is provided with abutmentmeans in the form of a plurality of pawl-like teeth 2c on one sidethereof as clearly seen in FIG. 13. Six pawl-like elements areillustrated in FIG. 10. It will be understood that the number ofpawl-like elements is not critical. The rotatable conductor and lockmember 2' is preferably of synthetic plastic or some other insulatingmaterial so that it can be molded as an integral unit with pawl-liketeeth 2c.

The stationary plate 3 is affixed to the shaft 11' at the end 11b"thereof, the end 'allb' extending through the central hole 30', and thestationary plate 3' is also provided with a plurality of pawl-like teeth3a similar to those on the rotatable conductor and lock member 2' on theinner side thereof. The pawl-like teeth 20' on the rotatable conductorand lock member 2' are adapted to be engaged with the teeth on thestationary plate 3'. In addition, electric contacts 8 and 9' are affixedaround the outside of pawl-like teeth 3a by means of eyelets .13. Lugs8a, 8b and 8c and other lugs 9a, 9b and 9c are provided on the contacts8' and 9', there being one lug corresponding to each tooth, the lugsbeing adapted to be contacted by the conductors 6' and 7' on therotatable member 2 (see FIGS. 9 and 12).

A plurality of holes 3d, shown in FIG. 9, are provided in the peripheryof the stationary plate 3 so that plate 3' can be fastened to a suitablesupport. As is usual in a spring-wound cord reel, a spiral takeuptension spring (not shown) is mounted in the drum hub 1 so that one endof the spring is fastened to the drum hub and the other end thereofanchored to the shaft 11. It will be understood that the rotatableconductor member 2 and the drum hub 1 are rotatably mounted on thecentral shaft 11'. Further, the rotatable conductor member is movablealong the shaft 11' up and down and is rota-table around it in eitherdirection.

In operation, when it is desired that the cord 12' pulled from the drumhub 1 should be locked and energized in any appropriate position, thecord 12' is pulled suddenly a little and is released again quickly. As aresult, the reel 1 revolves in a direction entirely opposite to thepulling direction under the tension of the take-up spring (not shown)housed in the drum hub 1 so that the inclined portion 10 of theprojection 1a (and also 1d of 1b) will slide under the arm 2a (and also2b) with the smooth and inclined entrance portion 1e (and also If)acting as a guide, and will wedge the arm 2a along the shaft 11 towardthe stationary plate, and rotatable member 2' together with the arm 2awill be further wedged on the inclined portion 1c. This is because theinertia of rotatable member 2' causes it to remain still or rotate inone direction while the hub rotates in the other direction when it issuddenly released.

Further, as the rotatable member 2 is wedged by the inclined portion ofprojection 1a (and also projection 1b) during the rotation of the reel,the pawl-like teeth 20' on the rotatable member 2 will approach thepawl-like teeth 3a on the stationary plate 3'. :Finally, overcoming theurging of the helical spring 4, both sets of pawl-like teeth will beengaged with one another. As a result, the rotation of the reel iscompletely suspended by the firm engagement of the pawl-like teeth 20'and 3a, which is clearly shown in FIG. 15.

At this time, the underside of the conductor 6' (or 7') secured to thearm 2a (or 2b) comes in contact with the contact 4' (-or '5') on theinclined portion 1c (or 1d). When the conductor '6 on the arm of therotatable member 2 comes in contact with the contact 4b, the uppersurface of the conductor 6 (or 7) on the rotatable member 2 is alsobrought into contact with one of the contact lugs 8a, 9a; 8b, 9b; 8c, oron the contacts 8' and 9' secured to the stationary plate 3. Thus, thecontact 4' (or 5'), conductor 6' (or 7) and contact 8' (-or 9') are allbrought into the complete contact with one another by the firmengagement of the pawl-like teeth 20' on the rotatable member 2' and thepawl-like teeth 3a on the stationary plate .3. At this time, the cord12' is not only locked in a desired extended position, but a completeelectric circuit is also established between the contacts enumeratedhereinabove, which is partly shown in FIG. 15.

Thus, energization is effected from the cord 12' to the leads 14 and 15,or from the leads 14' and 15' to the cord as desired.

Next, in taking up the cord 12 onto the reel after the use of the reel,the cord is pulled a little in the pulling direction and releasedslowly. Then the drum hub 1' will recede into-the position where the hubl is spaced from the position in which the rotatable member 2'1 is urgedtowards the stationary plate 3 so that under the influence of spring 10'the arm 2a (-or 2b) of the rotatable member 2. will slide down theprojection 10 (or 1d) so that the conductor 6' (or 7') of the rotatablemember will separate from the contact lugs 8a, 9a; 8b; 8c, 9c on thecontact 8 and 9' on the stationary plate and also separate from thecontact 4' (or on the drum hub of the reel. Consequently, the rotatablemember and theconductors thereon rests on the seat 11a at the bottom ofthe shaft 11'. Thus, the connections are completely broken. Accordingly,when the cord 12 is pulled a little, and then released or taken upslowly, the locked condition of the reel is released and at the sametime the electric circuit is disconnected. After the circuit has beendisconnected, if the cord is slowly taken up by the reel, the rotatablemember 25-occu'pies a stable position on the seat 11a at the foot of theshaft 11 so that the arm 2a (or 2b) of the rotatable member 2' will notland on the inclined entrance portion 12 (or 1f), because the reverse ortaking up rotation of the reel 1' is not so .sudden'as to cause the armof the rotatable member 2 towards the projection 1a (or 1b), even thoughthe rotatable member 2 moves onto the smooth inclined entrance portion1a'.=(or 1f). Thus, the rotatable member 2'. is urged towards thecircularrecess of the drum hub 1 by the tension of the helical springand the rotatable member 2' with the arms 2a and 2b during the reverseor taking up rotation. Consequently, the cord 12'. is safely. taken upor rewound by the reel owing to the proper rewinding operation of theretail, which is, clearly shown in FIG. 16.

As fully described in the foregoing, an automatic connectinganddisconnecting method and apparatus for effecting the connection ofthe contacts provided within the reel body can be achieved by the simpleoperation of a sudden and/or slow release of the cord together with thetension of the spiral spring housed in the drum hub 'of the cord reel.

Referring to FIG. 23, the reel of this embodiment of the inventioncomprises, in order from A to B, a stationary outer cover 2", a helicalspring 117, a rotatable member in the form of a rotatable lock means 3",a central drum hub 1", on which the cord C is wound, and 1 rotatablymounted on a central shaft13", a spiraltake-up spring 12" mounted withinthe spring-chamber of the drum hub 1", and a stationary outer cover 10".The sta-- tionary outer covers 2" and 10' are affixed to the centralshaft 13" by means of the nuts 14" and 15", respectively. One end of thespiral spring 12" is fastened to the drum hub 1", and the other endthereof is secured to the central shaft 13". The cord C is accommodated.within a pair of flange plates If" on thedrum hub 1". Connecting holes1g" and 1h" are provided in the drum hub 1'. through which the ends ofthe cord C extend toa contact 5a, provided on the drum hub 1".

One side of the drum hub 1 is recessed to accommodate the rotatable lockmeans 3" as shown in FIG. 23.

FIG. 22 is the plan view of the circular recess on the one side of thedrum hub 1".

As shown in FIG. 22, a pair of projecting elements 1a" and 1b areprovided on the end face, of the reel formed by the bottom of thecircular recess in the drum hub 1" on diametrically opposite sides ofthe shaft 13". Each element has the same form and the function of theelements is also equivalent, so that a description of either of theelements 1a" or 1b" will suffice. The element In" comprises an inclinedportion 10" and the portions,"4", 4a", 4b" and 4c". The portion 4'? is acontact, having a contact face 4a" for contact by the contact 8 or 9" ofthe rotatable conductor and lock member 3", a guide face 4b" for thecontact of the rotatable lock 3", and a part 40" for connecting thecord. The portion 40" for confunction so. that a description of either2a" or 212" will suffice. The sectional view of the element2af or.2b.'.is shown in FIG. 25, in which'the elementZa". is shown as having aninclined portion and a contact 6'" having one leg 6b." covering a partof the inclined portion. The

' contact 6" has an L-shaped cross section and the leg 6a" of the L-formcontact is adapted to be in contact with.

the contact 8"-or 9" of the rotatable contact and lock member 3", andthe one leg 6b? is adaptedto guide thecontact 8" or 9" of the rotatablecontact and lock member 3". From the back side of the portionfib"extends a screw-6c", and a nut 20' is threaded thereon to hold thecontact 6" on projecting element 2a". A. nut 22" is threaded onto screw60 so as to hold a wire against nut 20". The projecting element 2b has alike contact 7" thereon with like parts 7a", 7b" and 70". In vFIG. 20, acentral aperture 2e of the stationary outer cover 2". has the centralshaft 13" extending therethrough, .and a circular groove 2 around theaperture 2e" is a seat for the helical spring 11". f

The rotatable member'3" as illustrated in FIG. 21 has two arms 3a and3b. 'Itis made of synthetic plastic or' some other insulating materialin the formof a bar having an expanded central portion. The ends of twoarms 3a" and 3b are covered with metal contacts 8"; and 9" fastenedthereto by screws"18' and 19" The metal contacts 8" and 9" of therotatable member 3 are adapted to come into contact with themetal'contacts 4" and 5" of the drum hub 1 ofthe reel and the metalcontacts6" and 7" of the stationary outer cover 2'7. A central aperture3d" in the rotatable lock 3'.' has the central shaft 13" extendingtherethrough. A circular groove 3c" around the central aperture 3d" is aseat-for the helical spring 11". Asshown in FIG;"23, the helicalspring11" is provided betweenthe stationaryouter cover 2'. and the drumhub 1"of the reel.

The rotatable member 3 is rotatable around the. central shaft 13", andit is'also movable along the shaftlS.

It will be understood that the longer the length of the cord pulled from:the reel, the stronger the rewinding tenson of the spiral take-upspring secured in the spring chamber of thedrum hub 1" of thereel.

The operation of the'de'vice will now be described. The rotatableconductor and lock member 3" is housed in the circular recess of the oneside of the drum hub of the cord reel as shown in FIG. 23, and it isalways 'urged into the circular recess by means of the helicaltension,

spring 11"; In pulling the cord C from thereel, the rotat-able member 3"together with the projecting elements 1a" and 11;", all of which arepositioned :in the circular recess of the drum hub, are revolvedsimultaneously in the same direction as the rotation of the reel, forexample,

clockwise in FIGS. 22 and 24 and in the direction of-the.

bottom of the sheet in FIGS. 17-19. The arms 3a" and 3b" will be abuttedby' projecting elements 1a". and 1b", as shown in FIG. 17, and member3"will be rotated;

When the cord-being pulled is suddenly released, the winding spring 12"will causethe reel to revolve in the rewinding direction opposite .to.the pulling or unwinding the direction, i.e., counterclockwise in :FIGS.22 and- 24. As a result, the rotation of the rotatable lock;3".

is stopped, and the rotatable member 3" is held still by the urging ofthe tension spring 11" placed between the Immediately member 3" and thestationary cover 2". thereafter, the rotatable member 3' is movedtowards the stationary cover 2" by reason of the inclined portions 10"and 1d aflixed to the reel end face the circular recess of the drum hub1" moving against the arms 3a" and 3b" during the counterclockwisemovement of the hub under the rewinding action of the spiral spring 12".As there is a small clearance between the back of the rotatable member3" and the circular recess of the drum hub, the member 3" is easilyshifted toward the stationary cover 2". Subsequently, the rotatablemember 3 will be engaged by contacts 4a" and 5a". and will abut theprojecting elements 2a" and 211" provided on the stationary cover 2".

At this time, the rotatable member 3" has moved.

towards the stationary cover 2" a distance equal to one half thethickness of the body of the member 3", so both arms 3a" and 3b" areengaged with the projecting elements 2a and 2b of the stationary cover2" so that further rotation of the reel in the counterclockwiserewinding direction will be blocked, as shown in FIG. 18. Moreover, thecontacts 6" and 7" affixed to the projecting elements 2a" and 2b" areconnected with the contacts 4" and 5" secured in the circular recess inthe reel through the contacts 8" and 9" on the rotatable member 3".Thus, the cord C is locked at any desired position and an electriccircuit for energization of the apparatus is completed in an automaticmanner.

In rewinding the cord C onto the reel after use, it is again pulled inthe unwinding or clockwise direction. Upon rotation of the reel due tothis pulling on the cord C, the two arms 3a" and 3b" of the rotatablemember 3 are released from the engagement between the projectingelements In" and 1b" and the cooperating projecting elements 2a" and 2b"with the result that the rotatable member 3 again is clear of theprojecting elements and it is urged by the helical spring 11" away fromthe stationary cover 2" towards the drum hub 1".

Thus, the contacts 6" and 7" on the stationary cover 2", the contacts 8and 9" on the rotatable lock 3", and the contacts 4" and 5 in thecircular recess of the drum hub 1" of the reel are separated from oneanother.

Further, when the cord C which has been unwound from the reel isgradually allowed to be taken up or rewound on the reel in thecounterclockwise diection by the tension of the spiral spring 12", thetwo arms 3a" and 3b" which have been separated from the projectingelements 1a" and 1b" are rotated in the rewinding or counterclockwisedirection by the tension of the spiral spring 12" because they areengaged by the inclined guide portions and 1d". However, in this event,since the rotatable member 3" is urged towards the circular recess bythe helical spring 11", it will not be moved towards the direction ofthe stationary cover 2" by the inclined guide portions 10" and 1d", andthe cord C will be taken up or rewound onto the reel with all of thecontacts completely separated and disconnected.

As fully described in the foregoing, by the method and apparatus inaccordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, two functionscan be easily effected; automatic connecting of the electric contactsafter the cord on the reel has been partly unwound, and automaticdisconnecting of the electric contacts by a simple operation imparted tothe cord as it is being pulled. Furthermore, energization from eitherthe contacts 6" and 7" of the stationary part or the contacts 4" and 5"of the rotatable part is effected so that more benefit can be obtainedfrom this invention.

It will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form,construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention, the forms hereinbefore describedbeing merely preferred embodiments thereof.

I claim:

1. A spring-wound cord reel for an electric cord having at least oneelectric conductor therein, comprising a reel member having a hub,winding spring means in said hub for rotating said reel in the windingdirection when a cord on the reel has been unwound by rotating the reelmember in the unwinding direction, and automatic electric connecting anddisconnecting means comprising a plurality of projecting elements atleast as great in number as the number of conductors in the cord andmounted on an end face of said reel, each projecting element having ininclined portion thereon inclined to the end face of the reel, saidinclined portions each extending from the projecting element in thewinding direction of the reel, and a portion on the end of the inclinedportion farthest from the end face of the reel which is perpendicular tothe end face of the reel, a contact on the outer end of each projectingelement, the respective contacts being adapted to be connected to theconductors in the electric cord, a relatively rotatable electricconductor and lock mean-s freely r-otatably mounted on said hub andmounted on said hub for relative movement in the direction of the axisof said hub toward and away from said hub, spring means engaged withsaid electric conductor and lock means urging it toward said hub, astationary abutment means adjacent and opposed to the face of said hubwhich has the projecting elements thereon for engaging said electricconductor and lock means when said electric conductor and lock means isengaged with one of said perpendicular portions 0n the end of one ofsaid projecting elements, said inclined portions on said projectingelements wedging said electric conductor and lock means toward saidstationary abutment means when said electric conductor and lock means isrotating relative to said hub, and further contacts on said stationaryabutment means in positions to be contacted by said electric conductorand lock means when said electric conductor and lock means abuts saidstationary abutment means.

2. A spring-wound cord reelas claimed in claim 1 in which said reel hasa recess in the said end face thereof, and said projecting elements androtatable conductor and lock means are in said recess.

3. A spring-wound cord reel as claimed in claim 1 in which saidstationary abutment means comprises a stationary plate having aplurality of teeth thereon, said rotatable conductor and lock meanscomprising a rotatable member having a pluraly of teeth thereon matingwith the teeth on the stationary plate, said stationary plate having theprojecting contacts thereon, and said rotatable conductor and lockmember further having arms projecting radially thereof with conductorson the ends of said arms adapted to be positioned between the contactson said stationary plate and the contacts on said projecting elements onsaid hub.

4. A spring-wound cord reel as claimed in claim 1 in which saidstationary abutment means comprises a stationary member, a plurality ofprojections on said stationary member projecting toward the reel andeach having a contact on the end thereof and corresponding in number tothe number of projecting elements on said reel, the rotatable conductorand lock means comprising a rotatable member having arms thereonprojecting radially thereof with conductors on the ends of the arms, thecontacts on the projecting elements on the hub and the stationary memberand the contacts on the arms all being at the same radial distance fromthe axis of the hub.

5. A spring-wound cord reel as claimed in claim 3 in which the contactson the projecting elements on the reel face in one rotational directionof the reel and are at the outer end of the inclined portion of theprojecting elements, and the contacts on the projecting elements on thestationary member face in the opposite rotational direction.

6. A spring-wound cord reel for a cord, comprising a reel member havinga hub, winding spring means in said hub for rotating said reel in thewinding direction when a cord 0n the reel has been unwound by rotatingthe reel member in the unwinding direction, and auto-.

matic reel locking means comprising a plurality of projecting'elementsmounted on an end face of said reel, each projecting element having. aninclined portion thereon inclined to the end face of the reel, saidinclined porw tions each extending from the projecting element in thewinding direction of the reel, and a portion on the end of the inclinedportion farthest from the end face of the reel which is perpendicular tothe end faceof the reel, a relatively rotatable lock means freelyrotatably mounted on said hub and mounted on said hub for relativemovement in the direction of the axis of saidhub toward and away fromsaid hub, spring means engaged with said lock means urging it towardsaid hub, and a stationary abutment means adjacent and opposed to theface of said hub which has the projecting elements there-,

the end of one of said projecting elements, said inclined portions onsaid' projecting elements wedging saidlloc k 8. A spring-wound cord reelas claimed in claim 6 in which said stationary abutment means comprisesa sta tionary plate having a plurality of teeththereon, said rotatablelock means comprising a rotatable member having a plurality of teeththereon mating withthe teeth on the stationary plate, and said rotatablelock member further having arms projecting radially thereof engage, ablewith the. projecting elements on said end face of said reel.

No references cited.

ROBERT K; SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner.

1. A SPRING-WOUND CORD REEL FOR AN ELECTRIC CORD HAVING AT LEAST ONEELECTRIC CONDUCTOR THEREIN, COMPRISING A REEL MEMBER HAVING A HUB,WINDING SPRING MEANS IN SAID HUB ROTATING SAID REEL HAS BEEN UNWOUND BYROTATING WHEN A CORD ON THE REEL HAS BEEN UNWOUND BY ROTATING THE REELMEMBER IN THE UNWINDING DIRECTION, AND AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC CONNECTING ANDDISCONNECTING MEANS COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF PROJECTING ELEMENTS ATLEAST AS GREAT IN NUMBER AS THE NUMBER OF CONDUCTORS IN THE CORD ANDMOUNTED ON AN END FACE OF SAID REEL, EACH PROJECTING ELEMENT HAVING ININCLINED PORTION THEREON INCLINED TO THE END FACE OF THE REEL, SAIDINCLINED PORTIONS EACH EXTENDING FROM THE PROJECTING ELEMENT IN THEWINDING DIRECTION OF THE REEL, AND A PORTION ON THE END OF THE INCLINEDPORTION FARTHEST FROM THE END FACE OF THE REE WHICH IS PERPENDICULAR TOTHE END FACE OF THE REEL, A CONTACT ON THE OUTER END OF EACH PROJECTINGELEMENT, THE RESPECTIVE CONTACTS BEING ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED TO THECONDUCTORS IN THE ELECTRIC CORD, A RELATIVELY ROTATABLY ELECTRICCONDUTOR AND LOCK MEANS FREELY ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID HUB AND MOUNTEDON SAID HUB FOR RELATIVE MOVEMENT IN THE DIRECTION OF THE AXIS OF SAIDHUB TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID HUB, SPRING MEANS ENGAGED WITH SAIDELECTRIC CONDUCTOR AND LOCK MEANS URGING IT TOWARD SAID HUB, ASTATIONARY ABUTMENT MEANS ADJACENT AND OPPOSED TO THE FACE OF SAID HUBWHICH HAS THE PROJECTING ELEMENTS THEREON FOR ENGAGING SAID ELECTRICCONDUCTOR AND LOCK MEANS WHEN SAID ELECTRIC CONDUCTOR AND LOCK MEANS ISENGAGED WITH ONE OF SAID PERPENDICULAR PORTIONS ON THE END OF ONE OFSAID PROJECTING ELEMENTS, SAID INCLINED PORTIONS ON SAID PROJECTINGELEMENTS WEDGING SAID ELECTRIC CONDUCTOR AND LOCK MEANS TOWARD SAIDSTATIONARY ABUTMENT MEANS WHEN SAID ELECTRIC CONDUCTOR AND LOCK MEANS ISROTATING RELATIVE TO SAID HUB, AND FURTHER CONTACTS ON SAID STATIONARYABUTMENT MEANS IN POSITIONS TO BE CONTACTED BY SAID ELECTRIC CONDUCTORAND LOCK MEANS WHEN SAID ELECTRIC CONDUCTOR AND LOCK MEANS ABUTS SAIDSTATIONARY ABUTMENT MEANS.